Boat accidents are certainly not as common as other motor vehicle accidents throughout the state of Connecticut, but can be equally as devastating and costly to all victims involved. Boat accidents frequently occur on holiday weekends as the result of operating a boat while inebriated. While boat accidents sound as though they are more minor than car accidents since people are not directly impacted in the same way as car accidents, they are equally as dangerous as car accidents, possibly even more so. If you or a loved one have been injured in a boat accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Connecticut Boat Accidents

The United States Coast Guard has compiled a study of boat accidents during 2012, listing the following as the top reasons for boat accidents:

Operator inattention

Operate inexperience

Improper lookout

Machinery failure

Speed

Navigation rules violation

Inebriation

Force of wave or wake

Weather

Hazardous waters

Many of these can be avoided with proper boating technique.

During 2012, there were nearly 600 fatal boat accidents throughout the United States. The majority of these accidents occurred during summer months, specifically in July. The Fourth of July is a large boating holiday weekend and many people take to the lakes to celebrate the long weekend. Many of these boat operators are inexperienced and can inadvertently mishandle the boat while attempting to steer it or drink too much and attempt to operate the boat.

These accidents can lead to severe injuries. Boat accidents frequently involve the boat hitting swimmers in the water or people in the water on smaller crafts such as kayaks or jet skis. A boat can easily run over individuals who may be excellent swimmers. This type of accident often leads to severe injuries or even fatalities. Other boat accidents include one boat slamming into another which can lead to drowning or other severe injuries.

Many people assume they are safe in the water since boats often operate at much slower speeds than other motor vehicles and other people incorrectly assume that boat collisions are less dangerous than car accidents. However, boat accidents can often be fatal or lead to severe injuries. Even if a person survives a boat accident, they may have severe injuries from lack of oxygen due to several minutes of drowning, or other severe injuries. As the victim of a boat accident, you are entitled to seek compensation for any injuries you received in the accident from the boat operator who was responsible for the accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a boat accident, you are already aware of the great damage boats can cause. The Connecticut boat accident lawyers of Eagan, Donohue, Van Dyke & Falsey, LLP understand the great impact boat accidents can have on your life. Our attorneys have years of experience in fighting for our clients’ rights to compensation for any injuries sustained during a boat accident. Contact our West Hartford office today for your initial free consultation.